Newsletter

Man injured in Gulfstream Road motorcycle wreck

Savannah-Chatham police say a 44-year-old Pooler man was hospitalized with serious injuries Wednesday after a pickup truck turned in front of the motorcycle he was riding.

According to a metro news release, Parvel Leon, of Pooler’s Lake Pointe Drive, was riding east on Robert B. Miller Road about 11:41 a.m. when Robert Cressey, a 48-year-old Statesboro resident, turned in front of him at the employee entrance to Gulfstream. Police say the motorcycle hit the right side of the pickup, throwing Leon into the west bound lanes. He was taken to Memorial University Medical Center with head and facial injuries.

The department’s Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating the wreck.

Girl Scout march shutting down lane of Talmadge Bridge March 10

About 3,000 Girl Scouts, family members, Girl Scouts of the USA staff members and Girl Scout alumnae will march across the Talmadge Memorial Bridge on March 10 in a ceremony to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the organization.

Savannah-Chatham police will close the outside northbound lane of the bridge, along with the West Oglethorpe Avenue entrance ramp to traffic from 7 a.m. until about 11 a.m. to allow the march from the foot of the bridge to Oglethorpe Avenue and West Boundary Street.

There, the participants will board buses for a trip to Forsyth Park where they will join some 2,000 other celebrants in recognition of the founding of the organization.

Northbound traffic on the bridge will be limited to 35 mph during the walk. Traffic heading north towards Hutchinson Island and South Carolina during that time will be diverted to Derenne Avenue/Interstate 516 to access the bridge via Interstate 16.

Juliette Gordon Low founded the organization in Savannah when she assembled 18 girls on March 12, 1912, for a meeting.

The driver’s license checks were located at the intersection of East Broad and 38th streets, on Middleground Road near Tibet Avenue and on Skidaway Road at Bacon Park.

According to a metro news release, state troopers chased one driver 10.1 miles, reaching speeds of more than 100 mph, after Hakeem Campbell, 21, sped off from the East Broad Street stop, narrowly missing a trooper. The chase ended when a trooper tapped the bumper of the speeding car with a cruiser and spun it out of control near Heriot Street and Staley Avenue about 10 p.m.

Campbell, who lives on LaRoche Avenue, led troopers on a foot chase before being arrested, police say. He was charged with driving under the influence, obstruction, refusing to obey officer’s directions, no drivers permit, leaving the scene of an accident, fleeing to elude and reckless driving.

Police say the operation brought four arrests for suspended licenses, one for probation violation, one for contempt of court, seven misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana, two citations for possession of alcohol by minors and 10 traffic citations.

Involved in the checks were 41 metro officers, nine state troopers, two K-9 dogs and a helicopter.

The stops follow Feb. 10 license checks, which police say netted 26 arrests and led to the recovery of drugs, a gun and stolen cars, as well as the seizure of $19,000 in cash.

Blaze tears through vacant eastside house

A vacant house near the corner of 37th Street and Waters Avenue burned early Wednesday morning. No one was injured.

According to a Savannah Fire news release, firefighters arrived at 1016 E. 37th St. about 5:20 a.m. and found heavy smoke and flames reaching into the attic. The roof collapsed, and the house was badly damaged, but firefighters kept the flames from spreading to nearby structures.

The house was boarded up, according to the news release, and the owner said he was storing furniture inside with plans to renovate it. The cause of the fire is under investigation.